Posted on Feb 27, 2013

Certain Supreme Court justices were critical of the Voting Rights Act as they listened to oral arguments Wednesday in a case challenging a key portion of the civil rights legislation, signaling possible trouble for the provision. But perhaps none of the justices from the court’s majority conservative faction was as disparaging of the law as Antonin Scalia, who referred to its unanimous renewal in 2006 as a “perpetuation of racial entitlement.”

According to Think Progress, Scalia’s remark was met by “audible gasps” in the lawyer’s lounge, where members of the Supreme Court bar can listen to oral arguments.

The comment also led to a heated confrontation with fellow Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

MSNBC:

Scalia made the comments while discussing the unanimous re-authorization of the act passed by the Senate in 2006. According to Scalia, that vote indicates political fear among lawmakers more than any actual need for the protections provided by the law. “I don’t think there is anything to gain by any senator by voting against this Act,” he said. “This is not the kind of question you can leave to Congress. They’re going to lose votes if they vote against the Voting Rights Act. Even the name is wonderful.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor challenged Scalia’s comments, asking “Do you think Section 5 was voted for because it was a racial entitlement?” She also asked “Do you think racial discrimination has ended?”

The comments came during a hearing in which the conservative and likely swing members of the court appeared ready to overturn the a key provision of the law because it was too “backward looking.”